Slavery in the ancient Roman civilization
Text Version

Excerpt: “Nature has willed that every man’s children and [family] should be his dearest objects. Yet these are torn from us … to be slaves elsewhere. Our wives and our sisters, … are dishonoured ... Our goods and fortunes they collect for their tribute, our harvests for their [farms].”

Narrator: If we want to find the central idea of this source, read the first part of the source. The author is discussing families and children.

(Visual description: On-screen text saying “Nature has willed that every man’s children and (family) should be his dearest objects. Yet these are torn from us … to be slaves elsewhere” with the phrase “children and (family)” highlighted.)

Narrator: Later, the source explains that “these” – a man’s children and family – are “slaves.”

(Visual description: The word “these” is highlighted, followed by “slaves”.)

Narrator: The source then concludes by explaining that the “wives and sisters” become slaves.

(Visual description: The following paragraph is added to the text on-screen: “Our wives and our sisters, … are dishonoured ... Our goods and fortunes they collect for their tribute, our harvests for their [farms].” The phrase “wives and our sisters” is highlighted.)

Narrator: The central idea of this source is that the Roman Empire put many women and other family members into slavery after defeating their enemies.

(Visual description: The excerpt fades into the background, and the words “Central Idea” appear on the screen. After a few moments, the excerpt reappears on the screen.)

Narrator: To find a summary of the source, highlight all of the main ideas.

(Visual description: The underlined word “Summary” appears atop the excerpt. Then, the following phrases are underlined: “every man’s children and (family) should be his dearest objects”; “torn from us… to be slaves elsewhere”; “goods and fortunes they collect for their tribute”; and “harvests for their farms.”)

Narrator: Then, write a statement that conveys their meaning, such as: In the ancient Roman civilization, enemies defeated by the Roman Empire were separated from their family and their possessions and turned into slaves.